The Great Gatsby What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby represent this dream? Does the novel praise or condemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream changed since Gatsby's time?
-The American Dream has a different meaning to everyone but the most common dream is to come here and be successful. People come here looking for opportunity; ones they might not have else where. They are looking for a better career that could bring them success and more wealth. The American Dream is also about social class. In society, you are viewed on which class you are in along with your success and money.Gatsby represents this dream because he is a wealthy man and is high up on the social class. He has been granted the opportunities that most want. He has a nice house, money, and a lot of friends."He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way...and distinguished nothing except a single green light"(26). Gatsby strived to achieve his goals in anyway like most Americans. This quote shows this, he is steping into dark waters and testing new limits. The American Dream has probably changed since Gatsby's time but the basis of wealth and money has stayed the same. People are still looking for wealth and success. Compare and contrast Gatsby's social class with that of Tom and Daisy Buchanan. How does geography contribute to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby? - Gatsby is not as wealthy as the Buchanan's but he tries to compete with his lavish parties and his attitude. He makes his life seem like it is something that it is not. In reality he comes from a poor background and his wealth is contributed to organized crime profits such as bootlegging and gambling. The Buchanan's live in a large house and have been very successful in their life, achieving their goals through their careers. Geography contributes alot to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby lives on West Egg, a street that is not as classy as East Egg which is where the Buchanan's reside.The characters are judged by each other on where they live. "That huge place over there? Do you like it? I love it"(95). When street names are stated there are automatic assumptions are made about their social class and lives. Our world today relates alot to Gatsby and The Buchanan's. People are very judgemental on where you live and the size of your house. If you were to say you lived in Montbello, people would assume you are some little thug and you are not as well off as others. But if you were to say you lived in Lone Tree people would assume you are a rich kid that has a huge house.What is the meaning of the title? In what way is Gatsby great?-The meaning of the title is that Gatsby is a great person. It makes him seem like a wonderful, sort of heroic person. The title holds much irony though after reading the book because Gatsby really is not that great. It kind of in a way is mocking him. In the book, he makes his life seem grand and great; that he has achieved all these wonderful things in life but in reality he has not. Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby. -The Jazz Age was the time right after World War I. It was a time of corruption where individuals discarded previous traditional values for new ones. The Great Gatsby demonstrates many of these corrupted ideas. The images of bootlegging, prohibition, and organized crime show up often throughout the book. "'He's a bootlegger,' said the young ladies, moving somewhere between his cocktails and his flowers"(29). This quote shows Gatsby's elaborate parties he had and how he participated in the corrupted ideas of partying, bootlegging, and drinking.
The Great Gatsby
What is the American Dream? How does Gatsby represent this dream? Does the novel praise or condemn Gatsby's dream? Has the American dream changed since Gatsby's time?
-The American Dream has a different meaning to everyone but the most common dream is to come here and be successful. People come here looking for opportunity; ones they might not have else where. They are looking for a better career that could bring them success and more wealth. The American Dream is also about social class. In society, you are viewed on which class you are in along with your success and money.Gatsby represents this dream because he is a wealthy man and is high up on the social class. He has been granted the opportunities that most want. He has a nice house, money, and a lot of friends."He stretched out his arms toward the dark water in a curious way...and distinguished nothing except a single green light"(26). Gatsby strived to achieve his goals in anyway like most Americans. This quote shows this, he is steping into dark waters and testing new limits. The American Dream has probably changed since Gatsby's time but the basis of wealth and money has stayed the same. People are still looking for wealth and success.
- Gatsby is not as wealthy as the Buchanan's but he tries to compete with his lavish parties and his attitude. He makes his life seem like it is something that it is not. In reality he comes from a poor background and his wealth is contributed to organized crime profits such as bootlegging and gambling. The Buchanan's live in a large house and have been very successful in their life, achieving their goals through their careers. Geography contributes alot to the definition of social class in The Great Gatsby. Gatsby lives on West Egg, a street that is not as classy as East Egg which is where the Buchanan's reside.The characters are judged by each other on where they live. "That huge place over there? Do you like it? I love it"(95). When street names are stated there are automatic assumptions are made about their social class and lives. Our world today relates alot to Gatsby and The Buchanan's. People are very judgemental on where you live and the size of your house. If you were to say you lived in Montbello, people would assume you are some little thug and you are not as well off as others. But if you were to say you lived in Lone Tree people would assume you are a rich kid that has a huge house.
Discuss elements of the Jazz Age that Fitzgerald includes in The Great Gatsby. -The Jazz Age was the time right after World War I. It was a time of corruption where individuals discarded previous traditional values for new ones. The Great Gatsby demonstrates many of these corrupted ideas. The images of bootlegging, prohibition, and organized crime show up often throughout the book. "'He's a bootlegger,' said the young ladies, moving somewhere between his cocktails and his flowers"(29). This quote shows Gatsby's elaborate parties he had and how he participated in the corrupted ideas of partying, bootlegging, and drinking.
Works Cited:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print.
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